| Many times, parents ask whether | | | | homeschooling is by default superior. |
| homeschooling works. It's true that | | | | However, homeschooled students were even |
| parents know that public schools can | | | | functioning above their private school |
| often have problems, but they don't know | | | | peers. |
| that they can do any better if they | | | | In addition, homeschooling costs less |
| teach their children themselves that if | | | | than either private or public school |
| they send their children to public | | | | does. On average, public schools spent |
| school. As an alternative, some parents | | | | $6,500 per student per year. Private |
| opt for private school. Since a child's | | | | schools spent $3,500 per student per |
| education is so important, though, | | | | year. Homeschoolers spent just $550 per |
| they're understandably cautious when | | | | student per year. Of course, the last |
| they think of homeschooling their | | | | number does not adjust for the fact that |
| children themselves. | | | | a parent teaches for "free" and teachers |
| However, numerous studies show that | | | | are paid monetarily. |
| homeschooling in large part produces | | | | Public school first became commonplace |
| superior results as compared to public | | | | in the second half of the 19th century. |
| or even private schooling. Part of this | | | | At that time, more and more states made |
| may be due to the fact that | | | | at least basic education compulsory. |
| homeschooling by default means that | | | | This was done in an attempt to increase |
| parents are involved in their children's | | | | literacy rates. Prior to that time, many |
| educations. This is also often true in | | | | parents were only barely literate in the |
| public or private school education, but | | | | English language themselves, often |
| not always. Therefore, may be parental | | | | because they had just immigrated to the |
| involvement is the deciding factor, | | | | United States. Nonetheless, despite |
| rather than the homeschooling situation | | | | this, illiteracy rates in Massachusetts |
| itself. | | | | in 1840 were still just 2% among adults. |
| However, even when this is taken into | | | | By 1995, that figure had jumped to 19%, |
| consideration, homeschooling still | | | | despite the supposedly increased |
| produces better results versus public or | | | | emphasis on literacy in recent years as |
| private school. | | | | well as a much greater availability of |
| A study sponsored by the US Department | | | | books and other reading materials. |
| of Education showed that homeschooling | | | | Presently, approximately one million |
| students' scores were "exceptionally | | | | children are homeschooled in America |
| high" as compared to their peers. Every | | | | yearly. Many thousands have attended |
| grade showed median scores higher than | | | | universities and colleges. Some of those |
| those for public or even parochial or | | | | colleges were prestigious and very |
| private school students. Homeschooled | | | | difficult to get into. With |
| students who would have been in grades | | | | homeschooling, peer pressure that |
| one through four functioned at least a | | | | normally plagues children otherwise |
| grade level above their peers. By the | | | | eager to learn is absent. Instead, the |
| time they reached what was the | | | | parent or tutor, as well as any |
| equivalent of eighth grade, they were | | | | "classmates," only encourage the |
| four years ahead of their public school | | | | student. |
| peers. | | | | In short, homeschooling is a wonderful |
| In part, this may be explained by the | | | | way to give your child an education if |
| fact that public schools in general | | | | you're up to the task. |
| often do a substandard job and not that | | | | |